Forestview High senior earns scholarship through CaroMont Health
A Forestview High senior is the recipient of a scholarship that will pay for his education in a healthcare-related field.
CaroMont Health Foundation recently awarded the Wayne F. Shovelin Scholarship, named in honor of the former longtime CEO of CaroMont Health, to Evan Friday. Shovelin scholars must pursue a career in healthcare and excel in their high school classes.
As a Shovelin scholar, Friday will get up to $20,000 each academic year. He plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill in the fall and study biology and exercise science he pursues a career as a physical therapist.
"Both of my parents went to UNC so it always felt like home and a top-notch institution to go on a medical pathway," said the 18-year-old about his parents, Dana and Todd Friday.
The scholarship will cover tuition, room and board and textbooks. He will also have the opportunity to participate in three paid summer internships at CaroMont Health.
“Evan’s commitment and dedication to serving others is remarkable. He is passionate about his future as a physical therapist, and the CaroMont Health Foundation is proud to support him in his goal,” said Mary Grace Brannon, director, CaroMont Health Foundation.
Many accomplishments throughout his high school career helped Friday succeed at school.
“Members of the Scholarship Advisory Board were struck by all of the applicant’s academic records and extracurricular activities,” said Janet Arthurs, acting chair of the CaroMont Health Foundation Scholarship Advisory Board.
“Evan stood out to us as a leader, someone who enacts positive change and inspires others in everything he does. He is an exceptional young man with a bright future,” she added.
Aside from maintaining a 4.0 GPA, Friday was named Forestview’s Academic Athlete of the Year, attended the North Carolina Governor’s School East for Math, served as vice president of Student Government and founded an “Adopt-A-Grandparent” program, partnering his peers with nursing home residents isolated from family and friends.
Friday was motivated to become a physical therapist by his experience of suffering an ACL tear that ended his soccer season in the fall of 2021.
Undergoing physical therapy, Friday made the connection between healthcare professionals and the patients they serve personally. He realized then that physical therapy was something worth pursuing.
"I want to thank the scholarship board for the support they will give me throughout college. I know that their support will be a big motivator as I go through greater heights," said Friday.
Beatriz Guerrero can be reached at 704-869-1828 or on Twitter@BeatrizGue_.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Forestview High School senior earns scholarship from CaroMont Health
